World Day Against Child Labour 2021

The term “child labour” is often defined as work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. It refers to work that:

• is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children; 
• interferes with their schooling by depriving them of it or affecting their attendance and concentration

 Many children in child labour work in slavery, separated from their families and are exposed to serious hazards and illnesses.

Child labour is both a cause and consequence of poverty. Household poverty pushes children into the labour market, perpetuating poverty across generations, slowing economic growth and social development. 

It prevents children from gaining an education and skills that will lead to an adulthood of decent work opportunities. Inequality, lack of education, consumerism, discriminatory practices as well as traditions and cultural expectation are among factors that play a role in the occurrence of child labour.

According to data from Census 2011, the number of child labourers in India is 10.1 million of which 5.6 million are boys and 4.5 million are girls. The latest global estimates indicate that 160 million children – 63 million girls and 97 million boys – were in child labour globally at the beginning of 2020, accounting for almost 1 in 10 of all children worldwide

Across India child labourers can be found in the agriculture, industry and service sectors such as in brick kilns, carpet weaving, garment making, domestic service, food eateries, sugarcane farms, fisheries and mining. Children are also at risk of various other forms of exploitation including sexual exploitation and production of child pornography.

Due to long working hours and hazardous work, children in child labour face a number of problems.  The conditions in which children work are mostly unhygienic and toxic for their health. Stress, depression, tuberculosis, night blindness and back pain are some of the most common health problems faced by such children. Child labourers can suffer from long-term health problems such as due to malnutrition, exposure to chemicals, abuse, injuries, exhaustion, and psychological harm. These children are often subjected to sexual abuse.

The National Sample Survey Organisation’s 2017-18 household survey put the number of out-of-school children in India (6-17 years) at 3.22 crore. In January 2020, for the first time, the school dropout rate in India was less than 3%, but Covid-19 will undo that. Globally, more girls are likely to be affected at pre-primary and upper secondary levels, while both boys and girls are at a greater risk of not returning to universities.